“In Birmingham, we are creating vibrancy through community development and small business growth.” – Deon Gordon, REV Birmingham
"How engaged are you truly, in the cooperation of a public-private partnership?" – Shannon Morgan @HRSCommunities #LOCUSsummit pic.twitter.com/H9th5dgtlW
— LOCUS Developers (@LOCUSDevelopers) April 24, 2017
That afternoon, breakout sessions provided an opportunity for in-depth and candid discussions tailored to each network of professionals. The LOCUS real estate professionals roundtable discussed upcoming federal legislation, policy, and organizational initiatives to help with the development of walkable communities. Members of the Local Leaders Council, a national, nonpartisan network of elected and high-level appointed decision-makers in local government who are passionate about using smart growth to build great communities, learned and asked questions about federal policies that may impact their communities.
Gov. Parris Glendening introduces a conversation on federal policy at the @SGALocalLeaders Council #LOCUSsummit pic.twitter.com/jSFWN6AstG
— Smart Growth America (@SmartGrowthUSA) April 24, 2017
And members of the National Public Transportation/Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance Initiative, a project of the Federal Transit Administration administered by Smart Growth America, had a chance to talk with project staff from Smart Growth America and the Federal Transit Administration to provide feedback about what they have gained from the project thus far, what they still need, and how the project could better assist them.
https://twitter.com/SmartGrowthUSA/status/856531759508410368https://twitter.com/SmartGrowthUSA/status/856531818870341632
Clyde Holland, CEO and Chairman of Holland Partner Group delivered the keynote presentation on ways to solve the national housing crisis.
https://twitter.com/DustinAkers/status/856551663125106692
The program then split into three tracks focusing on our three themes of Partnerships, Placemaking, and Policy. Eight real estate developers, two mayors, two federal officials, two advocacy campaigners, a lawyer, and a nationally renowned researcher led six track discussions about the new recipe for economic development, policy changes for development equity, walkable suburbs, catalytic projects, and affordable TOD. View the Summit agenda to see the full list of speakers.
The final session of the day was an interactive “Shark Tank” session, LOCUS style—local elected officials and real estate developers each had seven minutes to sell their ideal projects for investment.
Larry Hopper, Planning Manager for EMBARK in Oklahoma, pitches TOD development around the Oklahoma City streetcar during the final session of the Summit’s first day.
And in the closing plenary, Commissioner John Schroer of the Tennessee Department of Transportation provided perspective for local leaders on working with state governments to get the most out of transportation funding.